Hydrilla growth in Lake Gaston has declined by 21 percent from 2005 to 2006, according to a recent survey by the Army Corps of Engineers.
In a telephone interview with Dr. Mike Smart, a research ecologist with the Corps, the Observer learned that there were 3,108 surface acres of hydrilla this past fall as compared to 3,932 surface acres in 2005.
The survey also revealed that the growth of Eurasian Watermilfoil has almost tripled from 61 acres in 2005 to 175 in 2006.
Brazilian Elodea did not show any increase in coverage and Lyngbia has grown from 1.3 acres to 11.3 acres.
The survey, which was conducted by the corps by boat, will be published shortly.
According to Smart matted hydrilla did not seem to be as bad this year as it was last year.
Smart also revealed that even though the money for additional studies is on hold, the Corps has found money to monitor several studies that have been started on the Lake and are still in progress.
Those include the grass carp telemetry monitoring; grass carp enclosure monitoring, test plant monitoring; and the hydrellia fly studies now being conducted at Caledonia State Prison Farm in Halifax County.
The grass carp telemetry program will involve 25 grass carp and is targeted for this spring. The carp will have radio tags placed in them that will allow monitors to track them wherever they travel in the lake.
According to Dr. Elton Brown, president of the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council, the grass carp should be introduced into the lake within the next two weeks.
There are 12 exclosure sights around the lake that will be monitored. The exclosures are eight by sixteen feet fenced off areas designed to keep the fish away from the plants.
The hydrellia pakistanae fly (Asian hydrilla leaf mining fly) project is moving forward. The fly is no bigger than a gnat.
The Army Corps is working with the people at Caledonia to try to find ways to improve the usage of the flies in controlling hydrilla.
It is not known, at this time, if the test flies have made it through this past winter. There is, however, some evidence that the flies have established themselves on the lake in small areas.